IMPERIUM:Earth’s Champion

- Day 1 After the Fight -

The name Orion Graves was everywhere.

News stations ran non-stop coverage. Social media was flooded with debates, theories, and fan pages. Interviews with experts, military strategists, and combat analysts dissected his fight frame by frame.

Some called him a genius.

Others called him a fluke.

A few were already calling him the future of the tournament.

And Orion?

He was asleep.

For the first time in days, his body gave up fighting the exhaustion, and he passed out for nearly fifteen hours.

But while he rested, the world was exploding.

Brooklyn, New York – Graves Apartment

Sophia Graves sat at the kitchen table, phone in hand, a steaming cup of coffee in front of her.

She hadn't turned on the TV.

She didn't need to.

The entire city was talking about her son.

She had spent hours scrolling through articles, videos, and Twitter posts. Some people admired him. Some were terrified. Some called him America's best shot, others said he was doomed against stronger opponents.

But one thing was clear.

Everyone knew his name now.

Her son, the kid who used to sneak out onto the roof at night to smoke, who always acted like school was a waste of time, the one who never pushed himself too hard—that same kid had just fought for his country and won.

She wasn't sure how to feel.

Proud? Terrified? Both?

The phone buzzed. A new message.

Unknown Number: Ms. Graves, this is a secure line. You will be contacted shortly for a security briefing regarding Orion's status. Do not discuss details with the media.

Sophia swallowed, setting the phone down.

There was no going back now.

Her son wasn't just Orion anymore.

He was Orion Graves, Champion of the United States.

- Brooklyn – Caleb's Apartment -

"Bro, I swear to God, the next person who calls me asking for an 'inside scoop' on Orion is getting blocked."

Caleb tossed his phone onto the couch, rubbing his temples.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "They're still calling you?"

"YES." Caleb groaned. "Journalists, random people from high school, even some chick who said she was from 'The Official Orion Graves Fan Club'—it's been ONE DAY."

Jace leaned back, arms crossed. "Yeah, well, you're his best friend. People wanna know what he was like before this."

"He was a sarcastic dumbass who made fun of my haircut," Caleb muttered. "There. That's your inside scoop."

Ava smirked, scrolling through her phone. "You know there's already merch of him?"

Caleb blinked. "Wait, what?"

She turned her screen around. There it was—T-shirts, posters, even a damn Funko Pop design. Some had his name in bold, some had a stylized image of him from the fight, others had quotes people thought he had said (but totally didn't).

Caleb groaned. "God, he's gonna be impossible to deal with after this."

Jace chuckled. "Nah. Orion doesn't care about stuff like that."

Caleb smirked. "True. But you know he's gonna milk this when he gets back."

Ava grinned. "Oh, 100%."

They all fell silent for a moment.

Because deep down, they all knew—

Orion wasn't coming back the same person.

News Network Broadcasts – The Debate Begins

-CNN-

"Welcome back. We're joined by former Marine and combat strategist Marcus Holloway to discuss Orion Graves' first victory in the tournament. Mr. Holloway, what's your take?"

"Well, I've analyzed the footage, and what Orion Graves demonstrated in that fight wasn't just raw power—it was strategy. He didn't overpower his opponent. He outmaneuvered him, used his ability intelligently, and capitalized on the weaknesses he identified mid-battle. That's rare, especially in high-stress combat scenarios."

"So you'd say he has a real shot in this tournament?"

"It depends. His ability is incredibly versatile, but it also comes with major limitations. He tires quickly when making large-scale changes. Against a stronger, more aggressive opponent, he could burn himself out before he gets a chance to win."

"So you think he's vulnerable?"

"Every fighter is. The question is: will he adapt before he meets someone who exploits that weakness?"

-FOX NEWS-

"This is more than just a tournament. This is an international event with political consequences. The fact that Orion Graves won his first fight means that the United States is still in the running for control over Earth's representation. If he wins, we control our future on the Galactic stage. If he loses, we risk being left out of a historic moment for humanity."

"But what about the ethics of all this? He's just a teenager."

"That's the cost of power. The moment his name was chosen, he became part of something bigger. Whether he likes it or not, Orion Graves is now a national figure. He's fighting not just for himself, but for the United States."

-- TWITTER (or X) --

@GravesFanatic: Orion is HIM. Y'all doubted and he straight-up deleted a dude's balance mid-fight. This man is BUILT DIFFERENT.

@PoliticalWatch: Should the U.S. government have the right to control Orion's actions now that he's representing the country? What happens if he refuses to cooperate?

@OrionUpdates: BREAKING: Sources say Orion Graves has been moved to a high-security facility for post-fight recovery. No word yet on who his next opponent will be.

@Doubter21: He barely won. The moment he faces someone who doesn't let him breathe, he's done.

@GravesStan: That smirk he gave before deleting Bakari's footing??? ICONIC.

--Fort Eisenhower –

Orion woke up slowly.

The exhaustion was still there, but it was… different now.

Before, he had felt like he had been pushed to his absolute limit.

Now?

Now it felt like that limit had shifted.

He stretched, exhaling sharply, feeling his muscles ache. His body was healing, but his power?

His power was growing.

He could feel it—something deeper, something waiting to be tapped into.

And as he sat up in bed, rolling his shoulders, he grinned.

Because whatever had changed in him, whatever new strength had started forming—

He was ready to find out just how far it could go.

13 Days Until the Next Fight.

To Be Continued…